ARROWTOWN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 771, 26 January 1877, Page 3

ARROWTOWN.

(from our own correspondent.) 1 see by your last issue that we are not singular in the matter of township rivalries. With you it is Clyde and Cromwell; with us Queenstown and Arrowtown. Our “ kettle of fish” is, however, completely upset, the members of the Council—that is, the Chairman backed up by the Queenstown representatives issued an “ ukase” that upon no consideration should meetings of the County Council beheld at Arrowtown: so you see that we are completely “bottled up” before we knew where we were. It is sai I that two members of the Arrow division turned complete traitors, and deliberately voted against their kin and county, going in dead for tho new tribe of “ soojee squatters,”—as occupiers of Commonage runs are now termed. Some of these gentry have had the effrontery to refuse payment of their rents on the grounds that the Provincial Government had no right to sell the leases. Now, as these people by accepting the conditions, and paying first instalment of rents, acknowledged tho Provincial Government as their landlords. I fail to see that they' can do anything else than pay up. The General Government are not at all likely to permit people to have the use of pastoral country for nothing. Such a proceeding would he manifestly unfair to other squatters, who legitimately pay’ their assessments. A large number of agricultural areas have been taken up and applied for on the Crown Terrace l ; and it is to be hoped that Mr Warden Simpson will see his way clear to grant the applications, subject to some equitable right of the miners to enter and search fir gold. The occupation of the Crown Terrace by a body of agriculturists would confer an immense benefit upon the Arrow, which, m spite of the opinion of the County Council to the contrary, is the real industrial centie of Lake County. I fail myself, to see that the mere fact of the County Conn, il holding its sitting m any particular town can largely benefit it much beyond tho “nobblers” which may bo drunk by the members attending. Nothing possibly can benefit any .goldfields’ town unless it is the legitimate development of its natural resources. A deputation waited upon Mr Warden Simpson, on Tuesday last, respecting the overrunning of the Commonage by sheep. The Warden promised that he would recommend the matter to the Government, who would direct the sheop inspector to see that runholders did not tresspass upon this public property. So far as the Cotnnmago question is concerned, it is very clear that the Wakatip district has been Buffering from a plethora of Commonage; in fact there has been too much of it. and abuses without number have crept in i and I quite agree with late Secretary for Goldfields, Mr D. Mackellar’a recommendation, that tho Crown Terraco

should be occupied, by agriculturists. 11 is really a shame that such a splendid oovntry should remain unprolltably occupied. (from another correspondent.) In the hope that your readers might re lish a few items of news from this lively place, as an old contributor, I crave a sum 1 space in your Columns. I have tiothinj startling to relate, the entire country beinj. at the present tinio in the throes of tin mighty (?) change being brought about In the initiation of the new torm of govern ment, and is consequently in an unsettlei state. Like all matters connected with tin stamping out of Provincialism, all measure.here relating to the inauguration of the sys tem of local government, have been “sharp, short, and decisive, ” The County Gounci composed, we will suppose, of the heat mei procurable in the district, have sat n solemn conclave twice. Various olliccif have been appointed, assessors Sent out ii all directions, and the rateable value of ai the property in the various Hidings deter mine!, and the rolls are now in the hand: of the County Clerk—Mr H Handers This is doing business with a vengeance ; lei us hope it may not prove another instance of “ the more haste the less speed.” The County Council have been singularly unfortunate in the outset in having to deal will heavy damages caused by the late rains t( roads and bridges, and I think it wchfd he only just if the Government at Wellington were to recoup this inevitable and unlocked for drain on the County funds. F.e the present I will leave the subject ; as wi progress 1 may from time to time compare notes with the doings of your Council. No doubt there will bo rivalry, which, if conducted in a prop er spirit, may lead to beneficial results to the entire community. 1 have stated that this place is dull, and having lately visited Queenstown, I can affirm the same of the Lake City, in fact ii bears the palm in this matter. 1 was sorry to remark that the bailiff appeared to be the busiest individual there. 1 trust this obnoxious blot may soon disappear from the face of this the fairest of our up-country towns. The Macotown Reefs still keep up their excellent character. The completion of the track now under contract, and the advcnl of machinery, is all that is required to make the name of the pilace resound throughout the Colony as one of the best wealth producing districts ever opened in New Zealand. New discoveries arebeingmade ; one tho other day on the line of the “ Premier” reef promises well. The reef is two feet wide, and carries good gold throughout ; the discovery was made, I believe, by Mr J. Williams (late of t>'o Cromwell Co.), and Mr H. Cope. I hope to be able to report more fully, shortly, of the progress of Mace town. On Saturday night we had a lecture from Mr W. J. Barry, on his forty-seven years’ colonial experience. The numerous audience was highly amused by bis quaint discriptinn "f old colonial life an I stirring scenes in India and China, Mr Barry is on a tour through Otago in this line, ostensibly with a view of raising funds by this means to enable him to send home his “ manuscript” work of his adventurous life for publication. His hearers are treated to the outlines of the coming addition to colonial literature ; and ; t is really worth hearing. I believe he may shortly be expected to lecture in Cromwell, Clyde, and the a’jacent towns, when, if only for “oldlang syne,” he ought to meet with bumper houses. In conclusion I may remark that the weather is exceptionally fine at present, and all kinds of produce, fruit, &0., are ripening fast throughout the district; indeed, harvesting has commenced in many places.